Manipur CM retaliates against Tejashwi’s ‘chinese remark’ to Assam’s Sarma

The ongoing conflict between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has escalated following the Assam government’s decision to eliminate the customary two-hour adjournment of assembly sessions for Jumma prayers.

Interestingly, this practice was initially introduced by the Muslim League government during colonial rule.

Also Read: ‘Bihar was Switzerland for Tejashwi…’: Prashant Kishor says RJD leader discussing development model is laughable

The former Deputy CM of Bihar also launched an attack on CM Himanta on Friday, calling him the “Chinese version of Yogi” in a veiled reference to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

“Assam Chief Minister (Himanta Biswa Sarma) seeks cheap popularity and aims to stay in the limelight… (UP CM) Yogi Adityanath is using bulldozers, while he (Assam CM) is halting namaz. The country belongs to everyone, there should be peace, but these individuals are only fueling hatred,” Tejashwi Yadav told ANI.

“The Chief Minister of Assam deliberately engages in acts to intimidate Muslims in a bid to gain cheap popularity and become the ‘Chinese version of Yogi.’ BJP members have made Muslim brothers easy targets to incite hatred, attract the attention of Modi-Shah, and polarize society,” Yadav stated.

Also Read: ‘How dare you threaten Assam?’: Himanta Biswa Sarma slams Mamata Banerjee over her remarks, ‘don’t even try to burn…’

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, a BJP member, joined the fray by criticizing Yadav, accusing the RJD leader of referring to the Assam Chief Minister as “Chinese” solely based on his northeastern background.

“It seems that the INDI Alliance is comprised of a group of ignorant racists who lack knowledge about the history and geography of our country. First, it was Sam Pitroda. Now, it’s Tejashwi Yadav showing racism towards the people of the northeast,” Singh said.

“We are as much Indian as the rest of the nation, and we do not need to prove this. However, this racism from the INDI Alliance towards the Northeast must cease once and for all,” he posted on X.

Singh criticized the INDI alliance, stating, “It seems that the INDI Alliance is comprised of a group of ignorant racists who lack knowledge about the history & geography of our country.” First, it was Sam Pitroda. Now, it’s Tejashwi Yadav showing racism towards the people of the Northeast, he noted.

Also Read: Assam Assembly scraps 2-hour Jumma break; CM Himanta Biswa Sarma lauds move: ‘Shed another vestige of colonial baggage’

Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended the state assembly’s decision to abolish the two-hour break for Jumma prayers, emphasizing that no other state assembly in India observes a similar break.

“The decision to discontinue the Jumma break in Assam was also supported by the Congress. Bihar or any other state assembly in the country does not have such a break. I am surprised that people outside Assam are opposing it without proper consideration,” CM Himanta stated in a post on X.

Assam Speaker Biswajit Daimary clarified on Friday that the decision to end the two-hour break was made due to the difficulty in conducting discussions on Fridays within the time constraints. Previously, the Assembly session on Fridays adjourned at 11 am to allow Muslim members to attend Namaaz. Under the new rule, the Assembly will now conduct its proceedings without any religiously motivated adjournments.

The revised rule states that the Assam Assembly will commence its sessions at 9:30 am every day, including Fridays.

The amendment was introduced to eliminate what was perceived as a colonial-era practice aimed at dividing society along religious lines.

(With inputs from agencies)